Sunday, 4/18 Surviving Saturday/Getting Ready to Lose Weight

Sunday, April 18, 2010

Hello my friends,

I am so worried about my youngest daughter who is so sick that she looks awful and sleeps and sleeps and has the chills and isn't eating at all because it makes it worse. There really isn't anything I can do for her, but if this continues past the weekend she will have to go to the doctor. She has had this pretty intensely since Wednesday evening. My other kids are mostly past this--my 17 year old son is only drinking diluted juices and water because his tummy feels tender, but it hasn't stopped him from being pretty active. I have a few of the symptoms, but I think because I eat healthy all of the time and have a good activity level that it isn't really getting to me. I don't know though, the fact that I am awake right now mans something.

I did go to the pool yesterday and got 90 minutes of exercise in there. My husband and I went tot see the college play that my daughter directed. She is in her element in the theater an that is her major, but I worry abouther future and her possible opportunities to use this for a career. The play was very good, a little onthe adult side given the topics. There were two one-act plays by Lanford Wilson, a Pulitzer Prize winner. I haven't been anywhere for entertainment reasons in a while nor have I had time out with my husband lately, so I got 3 bonuses for going to this. (There was also a good deal of walking to get to the college theater, so that added to my daily activity steps and mileage for the "Walk to the Moon.")

I read a good article today and I'm going to share the highlights with you. The big focus was the ways we need to prepare ourselves for weight-loss. This was part of an email from Everyday Health. The entire article can be found at: http://www.everydayhealth.com/weight/preparing-mentally-for-weight-loss.aspx?xid=nl_EverydayHealthEmotionalHealth_20100412
Ready, Set, Lose Weight
By Diana Rodriguez
Medically reviewed by Pat F. Bass III, MD, MPH

You need to determine a weight-loss plan that you are able to stick with for the long haul. It's not easy, but there are steps you can take to stay motivated.
10 Ways to Get Psyched for Weight Loss
1. Commit. Make a commitment and share it with somebody else to make you more accountable to your diet, exercise plan, and weight-loss goals.
2. Make a plan. It should be a program that will help you lose weight, but is also "do-able" for you. This goes for both diet and exercise.
3. Don't wait for the "right time. (With me, there would never have been a right time given how hectic my life can be--and I don't think I'm alone in that. Don't wait for Monday or after the next holiday either.)
4. Get in the right mindset. Don't fall into an "all-or-nothing" way of thinking because It's about small changes in your lifestyle that you can stick with and that will brings results overtime.
5. Be realistic. Think about what you can realistically achieve in terms of an exercise and eating plan and how it fits in your life.
6. Make time for exercise. Fitness is a key component of losing and keeping off weight.
Figure out what motivates you. Ask yourself questions to figure out what will help you meet your weight-loss goals, advises Wolf. For example, "Do you need a workout buddy? A reward at certain goals? How can you incorporate healthy foods that you enjoy? What types of activity don't feel like work to you?" These answers will help you formulate a plan that you can stick with.
7. Don't think diet, think life change. Preparing to lose weight isn't about starting a diet, it's about starting to make healthy adjustments that you're going to fit into your life. To maintain a healthy weight, the diet and exercise changes you make in your life should be permanent.
8. Create a network for weight loss. Losing weight be more fun, but it will also be more effective.
9. Use outside resources.

It's not about preparing for a diet, but changing your life so that you don't need to diet. Eventually making healthy food choices and getting regular exercise will become a part of your day you don't even have to think about!
I don't think I thought a lot about the things in this article before I came to SP, but I do think that all of the good things here along with the quality of information, I did prepare in the manner that this article suggested. I also think that this information helped me to analyze my plan and reflect on some things that I could do a bit better. I give this a two thumbs up for being useful and thought-provoking. You can decide of there's something int his list that gives you an "aha" for where you are at in your journey.

DAWNWATERWOMAN
Will keep your daughter & the rest of your family (you too) in my prayers my friend. I hope that everyone is well quickly. Thanks for the informative article. I'm going to check out the entire article. Good job on getting in the exercise. You amaze me! Love ya, Dawn 2865 days ago

JHADZHIA
Hi Sylvia, So sorry your daughter's not getting over this like the rest of the family :(( At least you and hubby got a break and a night out! This article pretty much sums up what Sparks is trying to teach everyone. Lessons learned here! Hope you have a peaceful Sunday! {{{gentle hugs}}} Linda2866 days ago

LOULOUBELLE2
Prayers for your daughter and that article just reinforces what Sparks is telling us all the time. So glad that you had a "date" with your honey. We all need a get-away from time to time.....2866 days ago